1Every person is to be in subjection to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those
which exist are established by God. 2Therefore whoever
resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who
have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3For
rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do
you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will
have praise from the same; 4for it is a minister of God
to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does
not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an
avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5Therefore
it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but
also for conscience' sake. 6For because of this you also
pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting
themselves to this very thing. 7Render to all what is due
them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to
whom fear; honor to whom honor.

8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for
he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9For
this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT
STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT
COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed
up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 10Love does
no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the
law.

11Do this, knowing the time, that it is already
the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer
to us than when we believed. 12The night is almost gone,
and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of
darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave
properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in
sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for
the flesh in regard to its lusts.

The Holy Bible, New American
Standard Version (c)1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977,
1995 by the Lockman
Foundation, La Habra, CA. All rights reserved. Words
identified as being spoken by Jesus are in red.www.BibleABC.net